(RFE/RL)
April 11, 2006 -- The president of Russia's southern republic of Adygeya today blamed the Kremlin for aggravating political tensions in his region.

In an interview published in today's edition of the "Kommersant" daily, Khazret Sovmin says he holds Dmitry Kozak -- Russian President Vladimir Putin's envoy to the Southern Federal District -- responsible for his decision to hand in his resignation on April 4.

Sovmin accuses Kozak of meddling in Adygeya's internal affairs and pushing forward with plans to merge the region with Russia's Krasnodar Territory.

Hundreds of demonstrators rallied in the regional capital, Maykop, on April 6 to express their support for Sovmin and to protest the proposed merger.

Sovmin told "Kommersant" he might rescind his resignation after he meets with the head of Putin's administration, Sergei Sobyanin, today in Moscow.